Homelessness Assistance

HUD's homeless assistance programs are categorized as either formula (non-competitive) or competitive. HUD awards Emergency Solutions Grants by formula to states and local governments. It awards the Continuum of Care Program and other competitive funds via a national competition through a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

On May 20, 2009, President Obama signed the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act or 2009. The HEARTH Act amends and reauthorizes the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act with substantial changes, including consolidating HUD's competitive grant programs and changing HUD's definition of homelessness and chronic homelessness. Grant awards under these ‘legacy’ grant programs are still in place and the resources for those programs are still relevant.

Highlights

Alternatives to Criminalizing Homelessness

Evidence suggests that policies and practices criminalizing homeless have an adverse effect on those experiencing homelessness across the country. For information on a more human rights approach, visit the Alternatives to Criminalizing Homelessness page.

NOFAs and Competition Resources

The FY 2015 CoC Program Registration closed on May 18, 2015. CoC Review closed on July 10, 2015. The opening of the CoC Program Competition has not yet been announced.